Mass. Drivers Strike Affects 8,000 Pupils

About 8,000 public- and parochial-school students in Worcester,
Mass., were without transportation to and from classes last week as 122
school-bus drivers continued a strike for union recognition begun Nov.
22.

According to the Worcester superintendent, John Durkin, the system
contracts for its bus service from United Truck and Bus Co., based in
Providence, R.I., and is not involved in the actual labor dispute. But
the superintendent's office is working with the company to help settle
the strike, Mr. Durkin said.

Although Richard Foley, business agent for Teamsters Union Local
170, would not comment on the strike, the bus drivers have reportedly
requested an election to join the Teamsters local. They have filed an
unfair-labor-practice complaint against the company with the National
Labor Relations Board.

Company officials could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Durkin expressed particular concern last week over the problems
the strike has created for the system's 700 special-education students.
So far, he said, temporary transportation has been found for only about
half of these students.

The superintendent said, however, that despite the transportation
difficulties, attendance in the district has been better than
average.--at

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